2015 World Eight reunite
The 2015 World Champion GB Rowing Team men’s eight reunite tomorrow for the first time since their gold medal charge in France in September.
This time, though, they will be testing each other and racing against the clock at the British Rowing Indoor Championships at the Lea Valley Park Velodrome, scene of cycling’s own medal charge at the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Alongside more than a thousand school, club and gym-based athletes, the GB eight will take on the Olympic distance of 2k on the kind of indoor rower seen in most gyms and rowing clubs around the country.
They will be joined in action by 2014 World men’s quadruple scull silver medallist Sam Townsend and London 2012 lightweight men’s four silver medallist, Richard Chambers. Twice Olympian Jess Eddie will head up a women’s relay team which will include Vicky Meyer Laker, Donna Etiebet and 2015 World lightweight silver medallist Imogen Walsh.
Alex Gregory, 2012 Olympic champion in the mens’ four said: “I’m really looking forward to getting the chance to compete in a London 2012 venue once again, especially after the excitement of last year’s competition. It’s not every day we get the chance to race on home soil, amongst other rowing enthusiasts so I’m very much looking forward to it.
“Indoor rowing is something that is accessible to everyone and I’m passionate about promoting it not only as a sport but as a tool for fitness and better health. There are rowing machines in every gym in the country, all it takes to get the ultimate workout is for people to sit down, pick up the handle and go! That is one of the reasons I’m looking forward to be a part of this year’s event”.
His 2012 Olympic gold crew mate Pete Reed, also an Olympic Champion in 2008, said: “The British Rowing Indoor Championships brings our sport ever closer together”.
Moe Sbihi – the defending BRIC champion in the open men’s category – said:
“I’m excited to have the opportunity to defend the title I won last year. I loved the atmosphere and the ability to mingle with fellow competitors makes it great fun.”
Sbihi added: “I hope to beat my personal best and win, however, my fellow competitors are tough to beat and I am not taking anything for granted. We all have to get it right to perform on the day. That’s the personal challenge.”
SAS, the leader in analytics and business intelligence, is the event partner of BRIC 2015 and the Official Analytics Partner of British Rowing and the GB Rowing Team.
Athletes aged from 11 – 76 years-old are due to take part in the event tomorrow which starts at 9am. Members of the GB Rowing Team will be racing in the post-lunch session.
Spectator tickets are £6 with U16s gaining free entry. Tickets can still be purchased on the door.
